September 11 Digital Archive / "Satan in the Smoke" Emails

"Satan in the Smoke" Emails

On the morning of September 11, immediately after two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in Manhattan, photojournalist Mark D. Phillips took a picture that would prove to be one of the most evocative and disputed images of that tragic day. Many peple later construed the image of the smoke in his photo of the burning buildings to compose the face of Satan. These e-mails related to this picture provide a revealing portal into Americans' responses to the attacks in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.

Mr. Phillips,Could I have a photo of the devil in the smoke from the World Trade Center disaster? My e-mail is rem700ci@yahoo.comI would really appreciate it so I could have a copy to keep.Sincerely,C...

Hello, I was wondering if I could have the picture e-mailed to me with the devil face in the smoke without any writing over it. I am a firefighter in Vermont and would like to put the picture inside o...

O my soul, don't be discouraged. Don't be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise Him for all that He will do. He is my help! He is My God! Psal...

I first viewed the "smoke devil" photo on Friday 9/14 after clicking onto the 9news.com website. I did not save the photo and was wondering if you could email me the photos and article that was on the...

I was trying to look at your pictures but the Internet keeps saying there is an error in line 200. So anyway I say yes I would like to continue and the message just keeps repeatedly interfering not a...

this must be a self portrait, if you are sick enough to broadcast additional fear into america.\nWed, 19 Sep 2001 12:59:27 -0400\n"'mphillips@stellarimages.com'" \nstudent \n\nevil\n...

The picture of the tower in smoke you published must be a self portrait, for you to broadcast more fear into america.Pete kesselring\nWed, 19 Sep 2001 17:07:34 +0000\nmphillips@stellarimages.com\npete...

Mark,I noticed a face (in the smoke) of an evil grinning Arab while watching TV shortly after the collapse. The image appeared for at least 15 seconds and my wife saw it also. I'm waiting for that to...